I consult on content strategy and produce web content for technology companies. In 2014, I went around the USA on an 8-month roadtrip (in a bright blue RV called 3DRV) exploring 3D Printing, 3D Scanning, and 3D Design. In the past, I have put pen to paper for the Wall Street Journal, Make, Sports Afield, the Pittsburgh Business Times and many others. You can follow my work via Twitter or email me. I write about the cloud, gadgets and gear, and 3D.

Google Maps War With Apple Is Over - Google Won

BBC News posted an excellent article today on Google Maps and their battle with Apple in the coming mapping wars. But the war was over before it started and Apple lost. They lost the day they cancelled the Google maps integration. Apple fans lost, especially.

BBC technology reporter Leo Kelion opens his post: “A new front opens up in the smartphone battle between Google and Apple this week when the search giant’s mapping technology is dropped from iPhones and iPads’ Maps app when they are upgraded to the latest version of the iOS operating system.”

Plain and simple: Google has the best data. Data wins in the mapping war and Google has an enormous lead because it is one of its greatest strengths. My prediction: Apple will start licensing the Google Maps data again within a couple of years. It is in the customer’s best interest and Apple’s, too. After all, if one of the reasons you have a smartphone is tied to navigation, your mobile phone device better make it possible. This isn’t about Google versus Apple – this is about serving the customer’s needs.

Here are three clues that Apple will probably head back to Google Maps within 24 months:

1. Kelion explained that Apple Maps rely mostly on TomTom, the handheld personal navigation device. “Apple’s Maps app will be based on technologies it adapted from three start-ups it bought between 2009 and 2011. But much of the raw location data itself is licensed from TomTom, the sat-nav gadget-maker.”

However, satellite navigation is facing an enormous battle given the speed and ubiquity of mobile phone technology and smartphone apps. The Wall Street Journal reported in May that TomTom is now starting to transition to a mapping company. You can read it here. Just starting? Another plug for Google Maps. The TomTom is a cool device, but if they are just starting to transition to “mapping” company, Apple made a bad choice. I know that Apple fans are going to say “Apple did what they had to do given the circumstances…” Okay. Remember, I’m actually an Apple fan, too. I’m simply saying that Google Maps is the superior product and customers deserve the best.

Kelion writes that the move is a blow to Google, but it is likely to be a short term advertising revenue blip for the Mountain View giant. True, they will not be able to show “sponsored links” on the default Apple iPhone maps for a while, but after Apple licks their wounds and heads back to Google Maps that revenue stream will flow again.

2. Ground Truth – you have to read Kelion’s post (link below) to fully grasp the power of what Google has done. In addition to their (now) traditional digital mapping efforts, they have analyzed streets signs, speed limits, addresses, rights of way at intersections (huge), and other details that make your map experience as close to real life as you can get. Plus, they have human operators checking each area for mistakes before it is added to the live map. And this is available in 31 nations. Tie in the user-generated potential (where you can create and correct maps) and you have a stream of data that Apple’s new direction cannot match. Like Arnold, they’ll be back.

3. This is a small reason/clue, but many urban dwellers love the map feature that revolves around public transportation. Some of the best data comes from the GTDF — the Google Transit Data Feed. Sure, loads of people drive, but in big metros public transport is heavily used, by Apple users who may want their GTDF back. Again, this is about the customer. Of course, there are loads of other mapping features native to Google Maps that Apple will have to spend a fortune to replicate. Riding a bus or train is just a tiny one.

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What do the maps look like when comparing Apple Maps to Google Maps? Has anyone bothered to actually render that map?

Based on the graphics portion, Apple has vector graphics which is a LOT better than bit mapped graphics. Personally, using Google Maps on iOS sucks. So, until I actually compare the two products, I can’t determine which one is better, other than so far, i’m not impressed with Google. I’m using iOS 5.x and I haven’t seen a later version of Google maps on it yet.

Google had vector graphics in 2010. Its on android and GL enabled computers. The only reason they didnt add it to the iPHone is because of Apple. It wasn’t Google Maps, it was Apple using an unbranded, OEM version of Google Maps they essentially licensed from Google in 2009. Google had no incentive to update it and Apple had no desire, just let it rot and blame Google.

Likely Google will develop a maps for iOS, its just a matter of whether or not Apple will block it.

If you want your life wrapped irrevocably in ads then by all means commit to Google.

Google isn’t in the customer service business, it’s an ad business. 98% of its revenue is generated through advertising. If you need to understand where an obsessive focus on generating money through ads gets you, turn on any one of 900 TV channels in the USA.

The only reason Google builds maps is so it can push ads at you depending on your location. Serving the customer? Give me a break.

Um no sorry you do fork out a good portion of your cash to apple just by having a iphone, apple requires a certain % of the cash paid to Verizon and AT&T in order to have their phone on their plan. Good thing you have a clue what your talking about or you would look stupid.

Apple’s Maps for iOS hasn’t even been seen in the wild yet, but idiots like TJ would like you to believe that Google has already “won the war”, whatever that stupid comment means. Like most people of reasonable intelligence, I’ll reserve judgement until I’ve used the new app for at least a couple of weeks, thanks anyway, TJ.

Hmmmmm. Ok, I agree that it sounds like some of the new items will be nice.. IF they actually make it to google maps….. and stay there. Google is terrible about adding something only to delete it later.

Also, Google is losing all the click dollars from iOS devices that use google maps, and then Siri prevents google from getting click dollars as the user gets the web site directly.

More and more, Apple mobile customers (WHO IS THE LARGEST mobile users currently using mobile web) are not clicking on Google and its google that loses the money.

ALL OF Android is only getting 20% of web visits even with its larger user base. Follow the money. Apple makes the profits, Apple has the web visitors (it Killed mobile flash), so I would not kill off Apple just yet. Also, Google Android is facing some strong issues in the Apple – Android war with Apple getting some major hits in and Samsung and Motorola only suing with FRAND patents. I just think you are a little early on this one.

Do you really think the info you are reposting here from the “other” guy, is lost on Apple?

Do you really think that Apple is unaware what it is going to take to unseat Google in the maps department?

Do you think that you (and the “other” guy) are somehow making news here?

Do you really think Apple has revealed all that maps will be out of the gate this month?

Do you really think that Apple has worked on this move for over 3 years, spending hundreds of millions of dollars on buying other mapping related companies, only to be blind-sided by your “huge revelation”?

Your agreement with the “other” guy that Apple will be back couldn’t be farther from the truth, the only way that might happen is if Apple ends up buying Google with the cash they are saving, which they could do by the end of this year.

Apple will have to throw a load of cash and human resources into map data just to catch up with Google data, not exceed it, just to match what Google can do today. So far I have not heard of Apple hiring substantial numbers of people to run there mapping business. I am talking about several thousand people being hired, that would surely make the news.

As Siri proves that Apple does not seem to have a natural ability to run cloud services, to update them at the lightening speed that Google does. Siri been around for a year an yet no significance updates or new features added, at least nothing that is news worth, an the media would report the number of toilet roles apple get through on a yearly bases if they could get hold of the answer.

If Apple moves that slow with maps, Google is going to tear them to piece and eat them for lunch. Especially in developing countries, where Google is rapidly expanding it mapping initiatives.

I suspect we will not see Apple plow that level of resources into a product which will derive little to no direct revenue, same as they seem to put little to no resources in Siri. Will see them come back to Google, of cause not, they are far to arrogant to concede defeat.

As to the 3d maps, yes they are pretty, an yes Apples have slightly jumped ahead but the hardware use to obtain those pictures were the same as Google, even the same planes were use in many places, which means that it just the equations an mathematics use to transform those pictures into 3d shapes, an they can easily be updated into the future. I am yet to be convince that they are useful. I think streetview is far more useful on a day by day bases and I use it regularly. This one element that I do not think Apple will ever be able to catch up with what Google has built. An I do not think they intend to.